You may think of flying in a private plane as something that only the wealthy do, but it is something that may be attainable for many people, and it can decrease exposure to the novel coronavirus, which is greatly important right now. The stay home orders around the country have made travel difficult, especially if you need to fly to your destination.
Commercial airlines have cut up to 90 percent of their flights, and it is still unknown when flight schedules will be able to return to normal, but we can anticipate this will continue until either a cure or vaccine is found for the novel coronavirus. Private charter flights may see a rise in interest as the global pandemic continues, since they offer a way to fly without having to be near others, reducing the risks of catching COVID-19. One private charter company saw an increase of 300 percent in charter flight requests in early March.
Decreased Exposure Risks
According to one study, “there are 700 touchpoints exposing passengers to the risk of contagion on a single commercial flight. There are only 20 such interactions when using business aviation.” This means that even though there is still a risk of catching the coronavirus when traveling, taking a private flight significantly reduces your risk of exposure.
Part of what makes flying a private charter so safe is that you do not need to arrive at the airports several hours early and go through a drawn-out check-in process. You arrive at the tarmac before your flight and climb aboard. You also do not have to go through queues to get off your plane when you reach your destination or spend time waiting at the baggage claim; you just get off the plane and meet your ride.
Relocating
In March, people began booking private charter flights to relocate their elderly parents and grandparents without having to put the vulnerable on crowded, public flights, as well as bringing college students home as schools began to close. One private airline, in a span of 48 hours, took a total of 106 passengers — the majority of whom were elderly —to destinations all around the country. There were no more than 16 people per flight and the airline implemented social distancing protocols their passengers had to follow.
Conclusion
It is difficult to predict if this new spike in flying private planes will continue when the pandemic passes and people are able to safely fly commercial airlines again, but it seems likely that some will continue to do so, after having enjoyed the comforts of a private flight; especially having a more direct flight without layovers.At QuikCharter, we are providing transportation for essential travel and cargo during this epidemic. If you begin to feel sick, you can cancel or reschedule your trip without penalties. We are taking every precaution to keep our passengers and crew healthy during these difficult times. You can learn more about our response to the COVID-19 pandemic here.